Environmental activists challenge ‘unlawful’ UK fossil fuel plan in high court

Climate campaigners claim the government is giving billions of pounds in subsidies to oil and gas producers

Environmental campaigners will this week ask the high court to rule that the government's fossil fuel strategy is unlawful, in a case that could undermine the UK's claim to be leading the fight against climate change.

The campaigners will argue that the government is effectively subsidising oil and gas production with billions of pounds in handouts, which conflicts with its legal duty to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.